the government says 53 dignitaries have confirmed so far including president and mrs. obama, he is expected to speak, presidents bush, clinton and carter, ban ki-moon, south korea's prime minister, and canada's prime minister. nelson mandela was made an honorary canadian citizen years after his imprisonment on robben island. >> he was on robben island. he was not happy to be there but made the best of it. >> reporter: people continue to bring flowers and mementos to the gate and now we're getting more insight on his final hours inside. a friend who saw mandela two hours before he died says he was sleeping peacefully, not on life support but clearly near the end. >> when i arrived i was taken to his bedroom and i saw him, and i could see that he is different from the conditions i saw him earlier on. i could sense that he is now giving up. >> reporter: after a day of prayer sunday this nation is coming together to say good-bye to the statesman they called pla deba, father and friend. back live now, they are doing it in style, you can see and hear this behind me, the seco